“Should Stability Be Punished? The Case of Somaliland in a Rigid International Order”

In international politics, stability is often praised as a cornerstone of peace and development. It is the benchmark by which fragile states are judged and the goal toward which countless international interventions are directed. Yet, in a world governed not only by principles but also by rigid norms and political calculations, stability alone does not always guarantee acceptance. The case of Somaliland raises a difficult and uncomfortable question: Should stability be punished when it does not fit within established political frameworks?

For more than three decades, Somaliland has demonstrated what many recognized states still struggle to achieve. Since 1991, following the collapse of Somalia, it has built a functioning system of governance rooted in local reconciliation, democratic elections, and institutional development. In a region often associated with conflict and instability, Somaliland has offered a different narrative one of resilience, order, and self-reliance.

But despite these achievements, Somaliland has long remained outside the circle of formally recognized states.

This exclusion reveals a deeper tension within the international system. On one hand, global institutions such as the United Nations and the African Union promote values like peace, democracy, and good governance. On the other hand,........

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